How are homes heated in Rocky Mount, VA?

Name: Heating fuel in Rocky Mount, VA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in Rocky Mount, used by 84.0% (±6.7 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

0.8% heat with utility gas.

9.9% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 0.8% (±1.2 points)
Electricity: 84.0%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 9.9%

Heating fuel in Rocky Mount

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Rocky Mount	Franklin County	Virginia	United States
Utility gas	0.8% (±1.2 points)	1.1%	32.3%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	9.9% (±6.2 points)	6.4%	3.2%	3.9%
Electricity	84.0% (±6.7 points)	78.2%	57.5%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	3.4% (±1.9 points)	7.9%	4.3%	4.9%
Wood	0.3% (±0.6 points)	4.8%	1.6%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±1.9 points)	0.3%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±1.9 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	1.2% (±1.6 points)	0.5%	0.3%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.4% (±0.6 points)	0.7%	0.6%	1.2%

The survey asks which fuel is used most to heat the home, so a home with a heat pump and an oil backup is counted once, under the one it uses most.

In Rocky Mount, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Franklin County (6.4%).

It is also higher than in Virginia (3.2%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (3.9%).

In Rocky Mount, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Franklin County (78.2%).

It is also higher than in Virginia (57.5%).

It is higher than the national figure (41.3%).

Homes heated by electricity in places near Rocky Mount

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Rocky Mount
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Rocky Mount	—	84.0% (±6.7 points)	—
Ferrum	7.6 mi	86.0% (±9.0 points)	Not measurably different
Boones Mill	8.5 mi	47.7% (±16.1 points)	Lower
Union Hall	11 mi	79.8% (±8.9 points)	Not measurably different
Westlake Corner	13 mi	86.6% (±6.1 points)	Not measurably different
Penhook	14 mi	93.9% (±5.7 points)	Higher
North Shore	14 mi	80.1% (±6.3 points)	Not measurably different
Cave Spring	17 mi	43.3% (±3.6 points)	Lower
Bassett	18 mi	62.9% (±15.0 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Boones Mill, VA (47.7%), Cave Spring, VA (43.3%), Bassett, VA (62.9%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Penhook, VA (93.9%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Homes heated by fuel oil across Franklin County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Boones Mill	31.2% (±16.6 points)
2	Rocky Mount	9.9% (±6.2 points)
3	Ferrum	7.9% (±7.3 points)
4	Union Hall	4.4% (±4.4 points)
5	North Shore	3.3% (±2.4 points)
6	Westlake Corner	1.4% (±1.8 points)
7	Penhook	0.0% (±8.9 points)

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

What you can do on Seayora in Rocky Mount

One account for renting, owning, managing and fixing homes, with these figures beside you.

Do repairs, renovations or maintenance?

Get found by owners and renters near Rocky Mount, and send estimates and invoices from your phone.

Join as a pro · Find a pro

Own or manage a rental?

List it, sign the lease and collect rent online, with the figures for Rocky Mount beside you.

Create a landlord account · See what landlords get

Looking for a place to rent?

Browse homes for rent near Rocky Mount, save the ones you like and apply online.

Browse rentals · Create a renter account

Questions about Rocky Mount

What is the most common way to heat a home in Rocky Mount?

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in Rocky Mount, used by 84.0% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Rocky Mount heat with oil?

9.9% (±6.2 points) of occupied homes in Rocky Mount use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Rocky Mount have electric heat?

84.0% (±6.7 points) of occupied homes in Rocky Mount heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Rocky Mount town, Virginia

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Rocky Mount town, Virginia (place:68496, in state:51).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0063PE, DP04_0063PM, DP04_0066PE, DP04_0066PM, DP04_0065PE, DP04_0065PM, DP04_0064PE, DP04_0064PM, DP04_0068PE, DP04_0068PM, DP04_0069PE, DP04_0069PM, DP04_0067PE, DP04_0067PM, DP04_0070PE, DP04_0070PM, DP04_0071PE, DP04_0071PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.